Thread cleaner for textile machines



Dc. 21, 1954 I s FURST 2,697,267

" THREAD CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Feb. 4, 1953 United States Patent Office 2,697,267 Patented Dec. 21, 1954 2,697,267 THREAD CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Stefan Fiirst, Munich-Gladbach, Germany, assiguor to Walter Reiners, Waldniel (Niederrhein), Germany Application February 4, 1953, Serial No. 334,998 Claims priority, application Germany February 7, 1952 9 Claims. (Cl. 28-68) The present invention relates to textile machines.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning threads during movement thereof on a textile machine.

Thread cleaners for textile machines are known, and these conventional thread cleaners usually include a stationary surface over which the thread moves and a turnable cleaning member having a cleaning edge located at a predetermined distance from the stationary surface. This distance is adjusted to accommodate larger or smaller threads, and any foreign matter on the thread or thickening on the thread causes the latter to engage the cleaning member and turn the same toward the stationary surface to lessen the distance between the cleaning edge and sur face. A spring is usually connected to the cleaning memher to resist movement of the cleaning edge thereof toward the stationary surface over which the thread moves so that if the foreign matter or thickening of the thread is of a minor nature the thread will be unable to turn the cleaning member and will simply move along over the stationary surface. Actually, the resistance to turning movement of the cleaning member can be low for relatively small threads and high for relatively large threads, but thus far no means has been provided to regulate the force of the spring so as to adjust the sensitivity of the cleaning device.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage by providing a thread cleaner with a means for regulating the force with which the cleaning member resists turning movement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a means for regulating this force independently of the distance between the cleaning edge of the cleaning member and the surface over which the thread moves.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a means for regulating the force with which the cleaning members resists turning movement automatically and simultaneously with the adjustment of the distance between the cleaning edge of the cleaning member and the surface over which the thread moves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic adjustment of the force with which the cleaning member resists turning movement in such a way as to render this force directly proportional to the distance between the cleaning edge of the cleaning member and the surface over which the thread moves.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists of an apparatus for cleaning threads or yarns and the like, this apparatus including a support having an outer surface portion along which a yarn is adapted to move. A cleaning member is turnably mounted on the support and has a cleaning edge portion located opposite the surface portion of the support at a predetermined distance therefrom, this cleaning edge portion moving toward the surface portion of the support upon turning of the cleaning member in one direction, so as to lessen the distance between the cleaning edge portion of the cleaning member and the surface portion of the support. A resilient means is operatively connected to the cleaning member to yieldably resist the turning movement thereof in the said one direction, and anadjusting means is connected to the resilient means for adjusting the force thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, to-

gether with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of one apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the structure of Fig. l as seen from the left side of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 of a different embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a support 1 is illustrated therein, this support 1 having a bent portion 2 provided with an outer surface along which the thread or yarn 3 is adapted to move in the direction of arrow 5 when the support 1 is fixedly mounted on a textile machine, the yarn 3 having a thickening 4 which brings the thread cleaner into operation, as described below.

At the side of portion 2 of support 1, the latter is provided with a side extension extending above and below the portion 2, and an elongated pivot pin 6 is fixedly connected to this extension opposite the portion 2 and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the outer surface of portion 2 along which the thread of yarn 3 moves. A cleaning member 7 is turnably mounted on the pivot pin 6 to be supported thereby for turning movement with respect to the support 1, and this cleaning member has a cleaning edge portion 8 located at a predetermined distance from the portion 2 of support 1.

When the thickening 4 of thread 3 engages the cleaning edge portion 8 of cleaning member 7 it will tend to turn the latter in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 6, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to lessen the distance between portion 2 of support 1 and cleaning edge portion 8 of cleaning member 7. Such turning of the cleaning member 7 is resisted by a resilient means in the form of a spring 9 wound about a portion of the pivot pin 6 and having a free end portion engaging the cleaning member 7 at one side of the pivot pin 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to tend to turn the cleaning member 7 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 6, as viewed in Fig. 1.

This counterclockwise turning of cleaning member 7 is prevented by engagement of an extension 10 of cleaning member 7 (Fig. 2) with an end portion of an arm 11 of a lever 11, 12 turnably mounted on the pivot pin 6. The arm 12 of this lever engages a cam 13 which is turnable on the support 1, and a spring 14 is fixed at one end to the support 1, extends about and against a part of cam 13, and has a free end portion extending into a notch of lever 11, 12, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to urge the lever in a clockwise direction about pivot 6, as viewed in Fig. l, to maintain arm 12 against cam 13, this spring 14 being stronger than the spring 9 so that the latter can urge the extension 10 of member 7 against arm 11 of lever 11, 12 but cannot turn the lever 11, 12.

Thus, as the cam 13 is turned, the lever 11, 12 is turned about the pivot 6 to set the location of the free end of arm 11 and thereby set the position of extension 10 of plate 7 to thereby regulate the position of this plate and adjust the distance between portion 2 of support 1 and edge 8 of member 7. The cam 13 may conveniently be turned by a knob 15 shown in Fig. 2 which maybe provided with suitable calibrations for directly indicat ng the distance between portion 2 of support 1 and cleaning edge portion 8 of member 7 so that the operator can set the apparatus for a particular thread or yarn s ze, the parts 11-15 forming an adjusting means for settlng the position of edge 8 with respect to portion 2 of support 1.

All of the above-described structure is common to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 and that of Fig. 3 and 1s 1ndicated by the same reference characters in these two embodiments of the invention.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, a gear 16 is connected to a side of cam 13 for turning movement therewith and meshes with a gear sector forming part of an arm 17 of a second lever 17, 18 which is also turnable on the pivot pin 6, the opposite free end portion of spr1ng 9 being connected to arm 18 of lever 17, 18, as shown 1n Fig. 1, on the same side of pivot pin 6 as the arm 11 and Other end of spring 9. Thus, when the knob 15 is adjusting the position is turned to turn lever of cleaning member 7, the gear 16 thereby simultaneously adjust the force of spring 9. For

example, when the cam 13 and gear 16 are turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, it is evident that the lever 11, 12 will slowly turn in a counterclockwise direction about pivot pin 6 to increase the space between parts 2 and 8, while the lever 17, 18 will turn in a counterclockwise direction about pivot pin 6 at a rate faster than the lever 11, 12 so as to gradually increase the tension of spring 9 as the distance between parts 2 and 8 increases, so that in this way the structure of the invention provides the desired result of regulating the force with which member 7 resists turning movement in direct proportion to the distance between cleaning edge portion 8 of member 7 and the outer surface portion of part 2 of support 1 along which the thread or yarn 3 moves. In the same way, when the cam 13 and gear 16 is turned in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, the distance between parts 3 and 2 will be lessened and the force of spring 9 will be proportionally lessened.

The frictional force of arm 12 of lever ill, 12 bearing against the cam 13 as well as the force of spring 14 bearing against this cam 13 serves to maintain the cam 13 and gear 16 in the position to which they are turned by knob 15. i

The embodiment of Fig. 3 differs from that described above in that the force of spring 9 is adjusted independently of the setting of cleaning member '7. In this embodiment of the invention a plate 19 is turnably mounted on the pivot pin 6, and an end of spring 9 is connected thereto, this plate 19 being manually turned, by engaging the pointed end portion thereof shown in Fig. 3, for example. A scale 20 is arranged opposite this pointed end portion of plate 19 to the plate 19 makes a fairly tight fit on the pin 6 so that although it can be turned on the latter by the operator, there is still sufficient friction between plate 19 and pivot pin 6 to maintain the plate 19 in its adjusted position which determines the force of spring 9 independently of the distance between parts 3 and 2.

Thus, in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 the parts l6l8 form an adjusting means for adjusting the force of spring 9 while in the embodiment of Fig. 3 plate 19 forms an adjusting means for adjusting the force of spring 9, the difference being that the adjustment of Fig. 3 is entirely independent while that of Figs. 1 and 2 is directly proportional to the adjustment of cleaning member 7 and is carried out simultaneously with the latter adjustment through the medium of the operating member 15 which is common to both adjusting means of Figs. 1 and 2.

it will be understood that each of the elements de scribed above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of thread cleaners for textile machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in thread cleaners for textile machines with a means for adjusting parts of the thread cleaners, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any Way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning yarns and the like, comprising, in combination, a support having an outer surface portion along which a yarn is adapted to move; a cleaning member turnably mounted on said support and having a cleaning edge portion located opposite said surface portion of said support at a predetermined distance therefrom, said cleaning edge portion moving toward said surface portion upon turning of said cleaning member in one direction so as to lessen the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and surface portion of said support; resilient means operatively connected to indicate the tension of spring 9, and

said cleaning member to yieldably resist the turning movement thereof in said one direction; first adjusting means mounted on said support and being operatively connected to said cleaning member to adjust the position thereof so as to regulate the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said surface portion of said support; and second adjusting means operatively connected to said resilient means for adjusting the force thereof, said second adjusting means being connected to said first adjusting means to be automatically operated thereby.

2. Apparatus for cleaning yarns and the like, comprising, in combination, a support having an outer surface portion along which a yarn is adapted to move; a cleaning member turnably mounted on said support and having a cleaning edge portion located opposite said surface portion of said support at a predetermined distance therefrom, said cleaning edge portion moving toward said surface portion upon turning of said cleaning member in one direction so as to lessen the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and surface portion of said support; resilient means operatively connected to said cleaning member to yieldably resist the turning movement thereof in said one direction; first adjusting means mounted on said support and being operatively connected to said cleaning member to adjust the position thereof so as to regulate the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said surface portion of said support; and second adjusting means operatively connected to said resilient means for adjusting the force thereof, said first and second adjusting means including a common operating member so that the latter automatically operates said first and second adjusting means simultaneously.

3. Apparatus for cleaning yarns and the like, comprising, in combination, a support having an outer surface portion along which a yarn is adapted to move; an elongated pivot pin fixed to said support, being located opposite said surface portion thereof, and being substantially parallel to said surface portion; a cleaning member turnably mounted on said pivot pin and having a cleaning edge portion located opposite said surface portion of said support at a predetermined distance therefrom, said cleaning edge portion moving toward said surface portion upon turning of said cleaning member in one direction about said pivot pin so as to lessen the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said surface portion of said support; a lever turnably mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot pin and engaging said cleaning member; spring means operatively connected to said cleaning member for urging the same against said lever; and adjusting means operatively connected to said lever for adjusting the position thereof on said pivot pin so as to thereby adjust the position of said cleaning memher on said pivot pin and adjust the distance between said cleaning edge poption of said cleaning member and said outer surface portion of said support.

4. Apparatus for cleaning yarns and the like, comprising, in combination, a support having an outer surface portion along which a yarn is adapted to move; an elongated pivot pin fixed to said support, being located opposite said surface portion thereof, and being substantially parallel to said surface portion; a cleaning member turnably mounted on said pivot pin and having a cleaning edge portion located opposite said surface portion of said support at a predetermined distance therefrom, said cleaning edge portion moving toward said surfaceportion upon turning of said cleaning member in one direction about said pivot pin so as to lessen the distance bu tween said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said surface portion of said support; a lever turnably mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot pin and engaging said cleaning member at one side of said pivot pin; spring means operatively connected to said cleaning member for urging the same against said lever; and a cam turnably mounted on said support and engaging said lever at a side of said pivot pin opposite from said one side thereof, whereby the turning of said cam moves said lever about said pivot pin to also move said cleaning member about said pivot pin and thereby adjust the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said outer surface portion of said support.

5. Apparatus for cleaning yarns and the like, comprising, in combination, a support having an outer surface portion along which a yarn is adapted to move; an

elongated pivot pin fixed to said support, being located opposite said surface portion thereof, and being substantially parallel to said surface portion; a cleaning member turnably mounted on said pivot pin and having a cleaning edge portion located opposite said surface portion of said support at a predetermined distance therefrom, said cleaning edge portion moving toward said surface portion upon turning of said cleaning member in one direction about said pivot pin so as to lessen the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said surface portion of said support; a lever turnably mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot pin and engaging said cleaning member; spring means operatively connected to said cleaning member for urging the same against said lever; adjusting means operatively connected to said lever for adjusting the.

position thereof on said pivot pin so as to thereby adjust the position of said cleaning member on said pivot pin and adjust the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said outer surface portion of said support; and a second adjusting means operatively connected to said spring means for adjusting the force thereof.

6. Apparatus for cleaning yarns and the like, comprising, in combination, a support having an outer surface portion along which a yarn is adapted to move; a cleaning member turnably mounted on said support and having a cleaning edge portion located opposite said surface portion of said support at a predetermined distance therefrom, said cleaning edge portion moving toward said surface portion upon turning of said cleaning member in one direction so as to lessen the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and surface portion of said support; resilient means operatively connected to said cleaning member to yieldably resist the turning movement thereof in said one direction; first adjusting means mounted on said support and being operatively connected to said cleaning member to adjust the position thereof so as to regulate the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said surface portion of said support; and second adjusting means operatively connected to said resilient means for adjusting the force thereof, said second adjusting means being connected to said first adjusting means to be automatically operated thereby and to regulate the force of said resilient means in direct proportion to the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said surface portion of said support means.

7. Apparatus for cleaning yarns and the like, comprising, in combination, a support having an outer sur face portion along which a yarn is adapted to move; an elongated pivot pin figted to said support, being located opposite said surface portion thereof, and being substantially parallel to said surface portion; a cleaning member turnably mounted on said pivot pinand having a cleaning edge portion located opposite said surface portion of said support at a predetermined distance therefrom, said cleaning edge portion moving toward said surface portion upon turning of said cleaning member in one direction about said pivot pin so as to lessen the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said surface portion of said support; a first lever turnably mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot pin and engaging said cleaning member at one side of said pivot pin; a cam turnably mounted on said support and engaging said first lever at a side of said pivot pin opposite from said one side thereof; a gear fixed to said cam for turning movement therewith; a second lever turnably mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot pin and having at said opposite side of said pivot pin a gear sector portion meshing with said gear; and a spring wound about a portion of said pivot pin, having one free end portion engagmg said cleaning member and urging the latter against said first lever at said one side of said pivot pin and having an opposite free end portion connected to said second lever at said one side of said pivot pin so that the turning of said cam and gear therewith simultaneously adjusts the force of said spring and the position of said cleaning member.

8. Apparatus for cleaning yarns and the like, comprising, in combination, a support having an outer surface portion along which a yarn is adapted to move; an elongated pivot pin fixed to said support, being located opposite said surface portion thereof, and being substantially parallel to said surface portion; a cleaning member turnably mounted on said pivot pin and having a cleaning edge portion located opposite said surface portion of said support at a predetermined distance therefrom, said cleaning edge portion moving toward said surface portion upon turning of said cleaning member in one direction about said pivot pin so as to lessen the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said surface portion of said support; a first lever turnably mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot pin and engaging said cleaning member at one side of said pivot pin; a cam turnably mounted on said support and engaging said first lever at a side of said pivot pin opposite from said one side thereof; a gear fixed to said cam for turning movement therewith; a second lever turnably mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot pin and having at said opposite side of said pivot pin a gear sector portion meshing with said gear; a spring Wound about a portion of said pivot pin, having one free end portion engaging said cleaning member and urging the latter against said first lever at said one side of said pivot pin and having an opposite free end portion connected to said second lever at said one side of said pivot pin so that the turning of said cam and gear therewith simultaneously adjusts the force of said spring and the position of said cleaning member; and resilient means operatively connected to said first lever for urging the same against said cam.

9. Apparatus for cleaning yarns and the like, comprising, in combination, a support having an outer surface portion along which a yarn is adapted to move; an elongated pivot pin fixed to said support, being located opposite said surface portion thereof, and being substantially parallel to said surface portion; a cleaning member turnably mounted on said pivot pin and having a cleaning edge portion located opposite said surface portion of said support at a predetermined distance therefrom, said cleaning edge portion moving toward said surface portion upon turning of said cleaning member in one direction about said pivot pin so as to lessen the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said surface portion of said support; a lever turnably mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot pin and engaging said cleaning member at one side of said pivot pin; spring means operatively connected to said cleaning member for urging the same against said lever; a cam turnably mounted on said support and engaging said lever at a side of said pivot pin opposite from said one side thereof, whereby the turning of said cam moves said lever about said pivot pin to also move said cleaning member about said pivot pin and thereby adjust the distance between said cleaning edge portion of said cleaning member and said outer surface portion of said support; and resilient means operatively connected to said lever for urging the same against said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,575,822 Davis Mar. 9, 1926 2,115,532 McKean Apr. 26, 1938 2,122,989 Peterson July 5, 1938 

